At UPMC, we celebrate what makes you, you. We believe that each member of our team brings something unique to the table that makes us better and inspires us to not just affirm UPMC’s values but live them every day. We’ve recently launched an exciting new partnership with Achieva, a community organization specializing in supporting children and adults with disabilities, that celebrates the diversity of individuals in our communities and invites them to become a part of our UPMC team.
Partnership that Empowers
Donatella Quinn is in the business of lifting roadblocks and building bridges. But don’t be mistaken; you won’t find Donatella on a construction site in a bright orange vest, but rather in UPMC’s Talent Acquisition department.
In the fall of 2019, UPMC welcomed Donatella to our team in a newly created position as an Inclusion Liaison Partner with Achieva. The partnership was formed to continue the commitment to diversity in UPMC’s workforce by recruiting and retaining qualified candidates with disabilities. David Bubas, director of UPMC’s Center for Engagement in Inclusion, said this partnership not only “recognize[s] value in ensuring access into our organization,” but also helps UPMC “become a better organization that is more equipped to problem solve and improve critical thinking.”
“Our focus is to create a great candidate experience across races, cultures, abilities, and lift any roadblocks.”
“What excited me about Achieva was the impact we could make in our community,” said Amanda Padula, director Talent Acquisition and Service Delivery and an integral leader in forming the program alongside other UPMC teams including Insurance Services, Human Resources, UPMC Center for Social Impact, the Center for Engagement and Inclusion, and the Disability Resource Center.
Amanda first learned about Achieva’s mission and employment support programs because of its success helping Giant Eagle, a Pittsburgh-based grocery chain, employ people with disabilities. She continued, “For talent acquisition, our focus is to create a great candidate experience across races, cultures, abilities, and lift any roadblocks. We are providing a gateway for qualified individuals to contribute within our workplace. As we taken initial steps to launch the program and enable our first hires for success, we are looking forward to growing relationships with more community organizations.”
Inclusion that Impacts
Though UPMC’s partnership with Achieva is fairly new, Donatella is already seeing the impact this work has with job seekers who were facing roadblocks in employment. “The sense of hope and relief is palpable when I receive referrals from job seekers who have been trying desperately to obtain employment. Through Achieva and UPMC’s partnership, we can offer a bridge to potentially help them succeed in their job search where they are struggling the most,” said Donatella.
Assisting candidates that may be facing barriers to employment involves more than just paperwork and policies; it requires encouragement, education, and advocacy. An important component of Donatella’s role as Inclusion Liaison includes training and educating UPMC’s recruitment team on how to eliminate bias and better serve job seekers with disabilities. But the bulk of Donatella’s role and passion is in her work with job seekers.
“Through Achieva and UPMC’s partnership, we can offer a bridge to potentially help [people] succeed in their job search where they are struggling the most.”
In a previous position, Donatella worked with many different underserved communities including dislocated and trade affected workers, low-income families, people with disabilities, previously incarcerated individuals, and refugees and migrants who faced a myriad of barriers in their job search. Donatella’s background in talent development uniquely equips her to connect with community organizations and individuals seeking employment with UPMC. Whether a candidate needs accommodation during the application process, wants assistance with interview preparation, or seeks support and career development once they’re employed, Donatella empowers and equips individuals in their journey to become part of our UPMC team.
Actions that Advance
UPMC’s partnership with Achieva is just one of the ways UPMC is working towards a more diverse and inclusive workplace. From community partnerships like POWRR and Project Search that seek to create pathways for diverse individuals to join our organization to employee resource groups like ENABLED that make space for employees to connect and be heard, we’re committed to continuing taking steps toward a workplace where all can thrive.
During the recent celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Dan LaVallee, director at the UPMC Center for Social Impact, commented on how this impactful piece of legislation supports and empowers those with disabilities. “The 30th anniversary demonstrates the incredible progress that has been made and the opportunity to build on this success now and into the future. I am confident that our partnership with Achieva—and their mission and sixty years of service—will do just that and make us a stronger and more diverse organization,” LaVallee remarked.
We celebrate what makes you, you, and recognize all the ways that our employees help us accomplish our mission to provide Life Changing medicine to all.
As UPMC seeks to create an exceptional workplace for people with disabilities, we affirm the value each unique individual brings to our team. We celebrate what makes you, you, and recognize all the ways that our employees help us accomplish our mission to provide Life Changing Medicine to all.
